State President joins overseas Vietnamese in New Year welcome ritual

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and his spouse on February 8 joined overseas Vietnamese delegates in a traditional carp release ceremony, a ritual marking the annual farewell to the Kitchen God and Stove God ahead of the Lunar New Year.

The event took place on the 21st day of the 12th lunar month and formed part of the “Homeland Spring 2026” program, an initiative led by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Earlier in the morning, the President and his spouse, alongside representatives from central ministries, Hanoi authorities and 100 exemplary overseas Vietnamese, offered incense at the statue of King Ly Thai To and at Ngoc Son Temple, a historic site overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake.

The group later released carp into the lake, a long-standing folk custom symbolizing renewal and the transmission of wishes to the heavens.

The overseas Vietnamese delegation included representatives from 32 countries and territories, working in fields such as politics, business, science, technology and culture. Participants include community leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and cultural figures.

Organizers said the program aims to reinforce national unity and underscore the role of overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of the country’s development.

The annual gathering also serves as a platform to encourage cultural preservation, language continuity, and engagement with Vietnam’s economic and social transformation.

As part of the visit, overseas Vietnamese delegates earlier paid their respects at President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and laid wreaths at the Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street in Hanoi.

The President and his spouse are scheduled to continue attending activities under the “Homeland Spring 2026” program in the coming days.